John Freitas shares the news that a close Bigfooting friend of his has passed away. Here is John’s tribute:

Manuel Solorio, better known as Manny as he liked to call himself, passed away this month doing what he loved; looking for Sasquatch.

Manny was a young 39-year-old full of life and vigor, born October 17, 1972. He was alone in the deep Pacific Northwest forest as he’s done 1000 times before, looking for Sasquatch. Manny would leave for two months at a time getting dropped off where roads end, then the hiking for miles and miles to areas seldom (if ever) visited by humans. He would take his cameras and videotape almost every minute of the day with the hope of catching a fleeting glance of Sasquatch.

Born in San Nicolas Jalisco, Mexico, as a child he moved to the Medford, Oregon area. He quickly became interested in the Sasquatch phenomenon while attending high school, and living so close to the Patterson film site, he dove headfirst into the research of this creature. Thus began his lifelong dream and journey of proving the existence of this elusive animal.

James “Bobo” Fay, John, and Manny.

Manny spent many nights with researchers around the local area and participated in some large expeditions with myself (John Freitas), including “Operation Night Scream”. One very eventful evening while doing a live radio broadcast with me and James Fay (better known as Bobo on Animal Planet’s hit series Finding Bigfoot), he was fortunate enough to be involved in a bona fide Sasquatch sighting.

Manny unfortunately succumbed (apparently from a heart attack in his sleep) while out in the field alone. His body was found a month later.

Manny leaves behind his three children, his mother Maria Solorio, father Jose Solorio, and his sister Trina Solorio.

Manny was a true believer who refused to join any association or group and stayed away from political grumblings. He always kept an extremely positive attitude. Manny was someone that you could not have heard from for months, yet within the first 5 minutes of a phone call or visit, it was as though you just saw him yesterday. He would come to your rescue no matter what time of day or night and never think twice about it. He was one of a kind.

Manny was devoted to his family and his passion for Sasquatching. In one of the last conversations I had with him, he said he was going to spend the winter in the forest of the North Pacific, near Lake Creek in Jackson County Oregon. I voiced my concerns of the dangers and he said “It was all or nothing”: he was on a mission.

For all that knew him, Manny’s stories, humor and his friendship will be forever missed. He was a true friend, comrade, and genuine researcher in the field of Bigfoot.

Manny’s funeral was held on Friday 24th of February 2012 in Oregon. All his Bigfoot friends who were able attended.

About Loren ColemanLoren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.

That is a shame, bless his family.
Did he have a heart condition ? seems odd that such a young man that must have been in good physical condition to be hiking in the NW for long periods of time by himself.
I wonder if he was frightened by something or someone that caused it to happen ?

My condolences to his family. He sounds like a very likable fellow and someone who was truly committed to his goals.

Although I feel I need to ask this of the editors/authors at Cryptomundo. Over the last few months there have been an extraordinary amount of death posts. Is this just because you are posting them now and in the past you hadn’t or have we suddenly experienced a HUGE uptick of deaths in the Crypto world?

A real pity this young man died. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

When Bigfoot is eventually found, I’m sure it will be by someone like Manny. Someone who will commit to actually going out into the wilderness alone, for an extended period of time. This shows the depth of his commitment, and the sincerity of his dedication.

Sorry this happened as I wish more could be known about him. For example, was he writing a book about his outings? It seems strange that his wife would be okay with him leaving her and his children for “Bigfooting” trips by himself unless he was working on some sort of project. I know women, and most would not be too fond of a husband doing something like that simply as a hobby. I wish someone could provide more information about him and his life as he would be a fascinating person to know more about.

Flame182 writes: “I feel I need to ask this of the editors/authors at Cryptomundo. Over the last few months there have been an extraordinary amount of death posts. Is this just because you are posting them now and in the past you hadn’t or have we suddenly experienced a HUGE uptick of deaths in the Crypto world?”

Nny writes: “I’ve been coming to the site regularly, I guess since Finding Bigfoot started, and I’ve noticed, especially recently, lots of obituaries featured here. Is there a HUGE uptake of deaths in the Crypto world, or is it a staple of the site now?”

For recent readers to the site, especially since you might have just read my list of the “top deaths” at the end of 2011, it may appear that a lot of obituaries have been posted.

But, no, this is nothing new. I have always posted obits in the past. I have published obits on all I learn about, as a way to celebrate the life of cryptozoologists who are often forgotten among the obits of rock stars, sports figures, actors, and political individuals.

I figured out a long time ago that cryptozoologists deserve being remembered as much as a singer or a ex-governor.

Sometimes deaths do seem to come in clusters, and that may be reflected on these pages recently. But that does not mean I didn’t write up every single death that I’ve learned about, without regard to that cryptozoologist’s, Bigfooter’s, or Lake Monster Hunter’s station in life, fame, or involvement in the field.

If I am told about, read about, hear about, am tweeted regarding someone dying, who is connected to cryptozoology, I write an obit for that person, to honor him/her, in tribute to her or his life’s work.

Thank you for the response, Mr. Coleman. It just seemed so odd to have so many deaths lately, a cluster as you say. And you are right, of course, about not forgetting the contributions and sacrifices that others have made in the field of Cryptozoology.

I guess I was just concerned over seeing so many at one time. I know many in the field are aging but (from its hey-days in the 70’s) but we seem to be seeing so many younger members too. And I completely agree about the celebrities being over exposed. I know they lived most, if not all, their lives in the spotlight but it seems a bit of overkill to have live funerals on major news networks for hours at a time.

RIP tio Meño. You will always be in our hearts<3 My uncle was amazing. I remember when he showed my cousins and I evidence and voice recordings of Bigfoot this one time. They were shocking. And he was the one that inspired me to like these type of things. He also proved to me that bigfoot is real & I know Bigfoot is real. I hope that someday I can be a bigfooter with Bobo and his crew.